November 19th 2024

BestCities Global Alliance Partners with Maritz to Host X-Culture Competition

BestCities Global Alliance and Maritz teamed up to host an educational challenge and competition for students participating in X-Culture – a program that provides business students from around the world an opportunity to virtually collaborate to “solve” a real-world issue. Fifty-one students from 15 countries across six continents participated.

A group of people posing indoors in a pavilion, dressed in formal and business attire, with a sign reading "Louis W. Riethmann Pavilion" visible in the background.

Global student competition highlighted benefits of major events to host destinations

BestCities Global Alliance’ and Maritz’ X-Culture challenge tasked students with showcasing the economic, social and cultural impact of major events on host cities. The challenge was executed in collaboration with six BestCities destination partners – Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Dublin, Guadalajara, and Singapore – as well as the Academy of International Business. It took place at the Academy of International Business Southeast Chapter Annual Conference at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, which was also attended by 150 international business professors.

Ideas from the projects were varied but distinct themes emerged across the board, including the need for events to focus more on sustainability; to involve and benefit local businesses and communities, including youth; and to better communicate the positive impacts of congresses and events to the larger community. 

The X-Culture program is designed to help students gain international business experience while supporting businesses with real-life challenges. Professors guide their students throughout the competition and, upon the challenge’s conclusion, researchers use and apply the resulting data to their studies.

“We were thrilled to be part of this year’s X-Culture competition. It was a pleasure to hear new and inspiring ideas that came from the dynamic group of students who participated,” said Loren Christie, managing director, BestCities Global Alliance. “BestCities’ mission is to build a collaborative community focused on making the world a better place through business events, so the X-Culture competition was a natural fit for us. We were truly impressed by the calibre of solutions and creative ideas that these students came up with to ‘prove’ the benefits of international business events.”

“X-Culture would like to thank these organizations for giving our students the opportunity to work with business professionals and to learn how to apply their academic knowledge to a real-world business situation,” said Timothy Muth, Faculty and Director, Student Assessment at the Florida Institute of Technology. “It was truly an awesome and enjoyable learning experience for the X-Culture students and faculty. “